FORT COLLINS – Colorado State running back Chris Nwoke returns to game action this week, fully healthy after missing the last two games with a sprained ankle.

He’s cleared for full practices, which begin today.

“We’ll see where he’s at,” CSU coach Jim McElwain said.

The junior starting running back should help provide a boost to CSU’s running attack, which has had its good moments but is generating just 3.1 yards per carry. Nwoke was getting 4.3 yards per carry before injuring himself in the team’s season opener against CU.

Nwoke ran for 1,130 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Nwoke’s return is of particularly good timing because his primary replacement, Donnell Alexander, is very questionable for Saturday’s game against Utah State with a sprained ankle of his own.

“It would be a huge thing,” said offensive lineman Brandon Haynes of Nwoke’s return. “It’s encouraging because he’s coming back fresh off the injury, so he’ll be 100 percent. He’ll be Chris Nwoke again, powerful, running downhill. He’s gonna hit you in the mouth. It’s going to be nice to have him back.”

Bernard Blake (hamstring) remains questionable for the game. Momo Thomas (shoulder) is doubtful for the game. McElwain said the senior will be replaced on punt returns by freshman Joe Hansley, who is backed up by Lee Clubb, Thomas Coffman and Jasen Oden.

Defensive end John Froland (neck stinger) is still “not at 100 percent with his strength in whatever arm it is. But we do hope to get some third down, dime, nickel (out of him),” McElwain said. “But we’ve got to get that cleared. That’s a stinger issue that obviously you’ve got to be concerned about.”

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

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Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.